Game apparatus



R. SMITH GAME APPARATUS Jan. 2, 1934.

Filed may 27, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 2, 1934. I R. SMITH 1,941,630

GAME APPARATUS Filed May 27, 1932 A 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I gwua/wiw $3Ramsey Jzrzai/z, E

i m MAMW Jan. 2, R. sMlTH GAME APPARATUS Filed May 27, 1932 3Sheets-Sheet 3 7'2 th/ a Gum/M Patented Jan. 2, 1934 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE I 1,941,030 GAME APPARATUS Ramsey Smith, Oakrldge,lboatan, Honduras Application May 27, 1932. Serial No. 613,962 3 Claims.v(o1. 213-121) My invention relates to game apparatus.

An important object of the invention is to provide a game apparatuswhich is highly interesting and attractive to play. 1

A further object of the invention is to provide a game apparatus whichmay be played with varying degrees of success, depending upon the skillof the operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of theabove-mentioned character, which is simple in construction, reliable inoperation and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughoutthe same,

my invention,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3, v

Figure 5 is a rear sideelevation of one of the target elements orpaddles,

Figure'6 is a transverse section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 2,

Figure 7 is asection-taken on Figure 6,

Figure 8 is a horizontal section taken on line 8-8 of Figure 7, V

Figure 9 is a vertical section taken on line 9-9 of Figure 10,

Figure 10 is an end elevation of Figure 9, and,

Figure 11 is a central vertical longitudinal section through a modifiedform of ejector.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 15 designates aboxlike structure constituting the body portion of the apparatus. Thisbox-like structure embodies a bottom 16, sides 17, and a high forwardend 18 and a low rear end 19. A playing board or bottom 20 is arrangedupon the bottom 18, with its forward end contacting with the high end 18and its rear end spaced from the low end 19, providing a collectingpocket 21. overhanging the forward end of the playing board 20 is ahorizontal strip 22. The forward end portion of the playing board, asindicated at 23, is inclined rearwardly in a direction longitudinally ofthe playing line 7-4 of board, with a stop shoulder 24 at its rear edge.The inclined portion 23, see Figure 3, is also inclined transverselyfrom a central point 25, and extends downwardly and leads intolongitudinal grooves or run-ways 26. These grooves or runways areinclined longitudinally in a downwardly direction toward the pocket 21,and discharge into the pocket. The projectile or ball 27, when projectedupon the inclined portion 23, will travel by gravity to either groove orrun-way 26, and then be returned to the pocket 21.

Rigidly attached to the overhanging strip 22, by means of screws 28, orthe like, are brackets 29, having a horizontal transverse support shaft30, attached to their low ends and extending between the same. Thesupport shaft 30 is preferably rigidly attached to the brackets 29.Arranged above the support shaft 30 is a stop shaft 31 extending betweenthe brackets 29, and rigidly attached thereto. The stop shaft 31 isarranged forwardly of the support shaft.

The numeral 32 designates target elements, provided upon their rearsides with hinge knuckles 33, which are pivoted upon the support shaft30. These hinge-knuckles are substantially equi-distantly spaced fromthe opposite ends of the target-elements. Any suitable means, such asstop rings or sleeves 34 are rigidly attached to the support shaft 30and prevent the longitudinal movement of the hinge-knuckles 33 upon thesupport shaft. Each target element is provided near its upper end andupon its rear side with a weight 35. This weight causes the upper end ofthe target element to be heavier than its lower end, so that the targetelement will remain in theupper .set' position, Figure 4, inclinedforwardly slightly past dead-center, and resting upon the support rod31. When the low end of the target element is struck by the projectileor ball, the target ele- 'ment is then shifted to a generally horizontalposition, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1, the low end of thetarget element being then held up against a re-setting rod 36.

As more clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4, the resetting rod 36, when inthe supporting position, 1 is disposed forwardly of the support rod 30,and this re-setting rod is provided at its ends with radial cranks 37,having pivot extensions 38 journaled in bearings formed in the lowerends of the brackets 29. These pivot extensions are parallel 1 with there-setting shaft 36, as shown. A lever 39 is rigidly attached to one ofthe pivot extensions 38, and this lever has connection with a retractilecoil-spring 40, attached to the overhanging strip 22, as shown. Thisspring tends to hold the lever 39 in a raised position and returns thesame to this raised position when released. A pull-element 41, whichmaybe in the form of a flexible wire,'is attached to the free end of thelever 39, and extends longitudinally of the playing board 20, outwardlyof the groove or runway 26, and may be guided within guide elements orstaples 42. A knob or handle 43 may be attached to the rear end of thepull-element which extends through a suitable opening in the low end 19.It might be stated, at this point, that when'any one or all of thetarget elements 32 have been struck at their low end and knocked down,the same may be re-set by pulling upon the knob 43. Pulling upon theknob will cause lever 39 to swing re-set rod 36 rearwardly, and thisre-setting rod engages the target elements below the support shaft 30,and returns the target elements to the upright or set position.

A proiector 44 is provided for the projectile or ball 27. This projectorincludes a base or carriage 45, which is vertically arranged, and isprovided upon opposite portions with horizontal grooves 46. The lowerend of the carriage is mounted between horizontal transverse tracks orrails 4'1, which enter the grooves 46. These transverse tracks or railshave depending vertical ends 48, rigidly attached to the extensions ofthe board or bottom 20. The carriage 45 isadapted to be shifted alongthe rails 47, transversely of the board 20. At its top, the carriage 25preferably has a curved recess 47'. The carriage 45 has a longitudinalopening 48, slidablv receiving a vertical rod 49, provided at its lowerend with a head 50, serving to limit the upward movement of the rod 49with relation to the carriage. It is thus seen that the rod 49 may beturned with respect to the carriage 45, or shifted vertically withrelation to the same. At its upper end, the rod 49 is provided with aU-shaped element 51, having inwardly projecting pivots or trunnions 52,which enter recesses 53, formed in the sides of a barrel 54.

This barrel is, therefore, pivoted to the U-shapedelementsothatitmaybeswungina vertical plane. When the projector isnot in use, the U-shaped element 51 is adapted to descend into aU-shaped groove 55, formed in the carriage 45, the barrel 54 thenengaging within the recess 47'.

The barrel 54 is provided at its forward end with a cylindrical bore 56,extending through such forward end and terminating at a wall 5'1.Arranged within the bore 56 is 'a flexible and resilient nozzle 58,formed of rubber or the like. This nozzle includes an outertubularsection 59, and an inner tubular section 60, these sections beingformed by bending a tube upon itself at the point 61'. The outer tubularsection 59 increases in diameter rearwardly and the inner tubularsection 66 increases in diameter forwardly. The outer tubular section 59is spaced from the wall of the bore 56 for the major portion of itslength while the inner section 60 is spaced from the outer section 59.The outer tubular section 59 is provided at its rear end with a bead 61,suitably anchored in a groove 62. The inner tubular section 60 isprovided at its rear end with a bead 63, receiving a tubular coupling64, screw=threaded into one end of a port 65, formed in the barrel 54.The opposite end of this port leads into a coupling 66, having aflexible pipe or hose 67, secured thereto, which may be formed ofrubber, or the like, as shown. The flexible hose 6'! extends through anopening in the lower wall 19 and has a compressible bulb 68 attached toits rear end. This bulb is closed at its rear end while it communicateswith the flexible pipe 6'7 at its forward end.

In Figure 11, I have shown a somewhat modifled form of flexible nozzle.The flexible nozzle in this figure is designated by the numeral 69, andis formed of rubber, or the like. This flexible tubular nozzle increasesin diameter forwardly and is provided at its forward end with a bead 70held within the groove 71, formed in a barrel 54', which issubstantially identical with the barrel 54. The tubular nozzle 69 isprovided at its rear end with a head 72, receiving a tubular coupling64', corresponding to the coupling 64, Figure 9. The groove 62 isomitted. All other parts remain identical with those shown and describedin connection with Figure 9.

The playing of the game apparatus is as follows:

When it is desired to play the game, all of the target elements 82 arein the upper set position, These target elements may have differentvalues,

which may appear thereon, as shown. The pro- Jectile 2'1 is now insertedinto the barrel 54, Fig-.

ure 9, and is accordingly introduced into the inner tubular section 60of the flexible nozzle. By virtue of the flexibility of this nozzle, thetubular section'60 will readily conform to the curvature of theprojectile, thereby affording an air-tight joint. By forcing theprojectile for a greater distance in the tubular section 70, the degreeof contact between these parts may be increased, thereby regulating theamount of pressure necessary to expel the projectile, and controllingthe speed of the same. With the projectile in place within the flexiblenozzle, the barrel 54 is aimed at the selected target element. Thebarrel 54 may be swung in a vertical plane upon the trunnions 52. It maybe swung horizontally upon the carriage 45 and it may be raised andlowered with relation to the carriage. When the desired aim is had, theplayercompresses the bulb 68 and the.

compressed air will force the projectile from the barrel toward theselected target. The ball may miss all targets and pass between thesame. When the ball strikes the lower end of, any target, this target isthrown to the generally horizontal position, Figure 4, with its lowerend forced-upward against the re-setting rod 36. After any arranged in atransverse row, yet I wish it under- .140

stood that the invention is not restricted to this precise arrangement.They may be arranged in a different manner, as ten-pins. While thetarget elements are shown in the formof paddles, the invention is notrestricted to this shape. They may be made in the shape of ten pins, orany other desired shapes.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as the preferred example of the same, and

125 or all of the targets have been thrown to the that various changesin the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoinedclaims.

Having fully described my invention, claim is:

1. In a game apparatus, a support including a board, a transversesupport shaft arranged near the forward end of the board and above thesame. target elements pivoted between their ends upon the support shaftand having their upper ends heavier than their lower ends, a transversestop shaft disposed near the support shaft but spaced from the same sothat the upper ends of the target elements rest upon the stop shaft, anda resetting device arranged near the support shaft to engage with thelower portions of the target elements.

2. In a game apparatus, a support, a transverse support shaft arrangednear the forward end of the support, target elements pivoted betweentheir ends upon the support shaft and having their upper ends heavierthan their lower ends, a transverse stop shaft disposed near the supportshaft but spaced from the same so what I that the upper ends of thetarget elements rest upon the stop shaft, a resetting shaft havingcranks which are pivotally supported at points near and forwardly of thesupport shaft, means to shift the resetting shaft forwardly, andmanually operated means to shift the resetting shaft rearwardly so thatit engages with the lower portions of the target elements.

3. In a game apparatus, a support including a board, a transversesupport shaft arranged above the board, a target element pivoted uponthe support shaft and having its end portion extending above the shaftstraight, a weight secured to the upper end of the target element anddisposed upon the side of the same next to the support shaft, and atransverse stop shaft arranged above the support shaft and forwardly ofthe same, the arrangement being such that the stop shaft will supportthe target element in a position inclined from the vertical with theweight disposed bodily upon the forward side of the support shaft, and aresetting device arranged near the support shaft to engage with thelower portions of the target element.

RAMSEY SMITH.

